Pictured: Advertisement by R. Haswell and Sons for Paillard’s Palladium Balance Springs, The Horological Journal, July 1883 Charles-Auguste Paillard originally developed palladium alloys for use in fine marine chronometers due to the non-corrosive properties of the alloy. Despite Paillard’s palladium balance spring being introduced to the trade in 1879, broader commercialization did not occur for several years. In July 1883, the first advertisements for Paillard’s palladium balance spring began appearing in issues of The Horological Journal. The hairsprings were described as “inoxidable” and “non-magnetic,” indicating that the non-magnetic properties of the palladium alloy had been established as a desirable feature. R... Continue Reading

by Nathan Moore, 11 hours ago

Pictured: Ajax Insulator with Original Box [Images Courtesy of eBay Seller baubles-and-buttons] The anti-magnetic Ajax Insulators sold by the Newark Watch Case Company typically featured a glossy black exterior and soft lining to protect the watch.  The most common variant was the option with an opening cutaway for the watch dial. However, insulators were also available that completely encased the watch, requiring the owner to open the Ajax Insulator to look at the dial. The original box included a guarantee by the company: “We hereby guarantee that the enclosed Insulator protects the WATCH CASE from wear, and the WATCH from all ordinary magnetic influences.” ... Continue Reading

by Nathan Moore, 1 day ago

Pictured: “Ajax Insulators” Advertisement, The Jewelers’ Circular, August 3, 1898. As electricity was being adopted across the globe in the 1880s, the watch industry was met with the challenge of magnetism from electromagnetic fields.  When the delicate hairspring, balance, and steel parts of the watch movement were magnetized, the watch would operate erratically. This result was immensely problematic on railroads, where precise timekeeping was critical. While Charles-Auguste Paillard was developing palladium alloys for watches that were non-magnetic, other companies scrambled to create devices to protect watches from the influences of magnetism.  In July 1888, Atkinson Bros. introduced the Ajax Watch Insulator as a protective device shielding the entire watch from the influences of magnetism. The insulator was manufactured from highly magnetic sheet iron and lined with plush material, designed to fit snugly around any watch case to absorb and redirect magnetic fields.  In July 1889, the Metropolitan Watch Company was organized by Henry F... Continue Reading

by Nathan Moore, 2 days ago